Nebulizer/MDI for toddlers advice

I'm looking for advice from those with experience administering MDI/nebulizer treatments to toddlers. I've scoured the internet looking for resources but thought my best bet would be from those with actual experience!

Mostly looking for any recommendations to make life easier for those terrified 2 year olds who are fighting the nebulizer/MDI and for the parents/nurses attempting to administer the medication.

My patient today fought so hard that the provider eventually prescribed albuterol syrup (which I never knew existed honestly).

OMG.... that used to be my nightmare! That I'd spend my entire stretch of shifts admitting toddlers on back-to-back nebs. If you're using face-masks with those nebs, there really are no tricks to making it easier. They're going to turn into greased pigs with incredible vocal range no matter what. Where I work now, we use a side-stream set-up of corrugated hose, with or without a mouthpiece. You can direct the mist at them while they're on a parent's lap, or while they're sleeping.

Aug 18

Joined: Nov '09; Posts: 562; Likes: 1,389

Try holding toddler on your lap, if possible, wrap one arm around child, and use other hand to entertain child, book, tablet, toy, etc. . If that doesn't work, Albuteral syrup sounds like a plan.

OMG.... that used to be my nightmare! That I'd spend my entire stretch of shifts admitting toddlers on back-to-back nebs. If you're using face-masks with those nebs, there really are no tricks to making it easier. They're going to turn into greased pigs with incredible vocal range no matter what. Where I work now, we use a side-stream set-up of corrugated hose, with or without a mouthpiece. You can direct the mist at them while they're on a parent's lap, or while they're sleeping.

Doesn't administering it as blow by reduce the amount of medication they actually inhale?

Doesn't administering it as blow by reduce the amount of medication they actually inhale?

Not really. There are exhalation ports on the mask that allow a significant portion of the atomized med to escape along with their exhaled carbon dioxide. And if you can't keep the mask on the child's face, then you may as well squirt the med on the floor.

Aug 29

Joined: Oct '06; Posts: 2,604; Likes: 3,899

On the ambulance we use the full does and do it by blow by, they get what they get. If they are truly in severe distress they most likely wont be fighting to hard, and even if they are there are more ways to skin pig! Magnessium and Epi.